Posted by Larry Hoover on November 6, 2004, at 11:56:29
In reply to Re: vitamin E and depression, posted by mistermindmasta on November 6, 2004, at 11:11:46
> > Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Oct 27 [Epub ahead of print]
> >
> > Low plasma vitamin E levels in major depression: diet or disease?
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> > Owen AJ, Batterham MJ, Probst YC, Grenyer BF, Tapsell LC.
> >
> > 1Smart Foods Centre, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia.
> >
> > OBJECTIVE:: Levels of vitamin E have been reported to be lower in patients suffering major depression, but whether this is due to inadequate dietary intake or the pathophysiology of depression is not known, and was the subject of the present study. SETTING:: Wollongong, Australia. METHODS:: Plasma vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) was measured in 49 adults with major depression, age (mean+/-s.d.): 47+/-12 y. In a subset (n=19) usual dietary intake of vitamin E was determined by diet history. RESULTS:: Subjects had significantly lower plasma alpha-tocopherol (4.71+/-0.13 μmol/mmol cholesterol) than has previously been reported for healthy Australians, and plasma alpha-tocopherol was inversely related to depression score (by Beck Depression Inventory) (r=-0.367, P<0.009). Diet analysis indicated that 89% of subjects met or exceeded the recommended intake for vitamin E, and dietary intake was not related to plasma alpha-tocopherol level in this subset. CONCLUSION:: These findings suggest that plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol are lower in depression, but this is not likely to be the result of inability to meet recommended dietary intake. SPONSORSHIP:: This study was supported in part by the Clover Corporation and the Australian Research Council.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 27 October 2004; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602072.
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> Might this be because of the poorer diets of people with major depression??No. Specifically excluded: "Diet analysis indicated that 89% of subjects met or exceeded the recommended intake for vitamin E, and dietary intake was not related to plasma alpha-tocopherol level in this subset." Also, read the conclusion. The implication is biochemical reduction (functional deficiency), not dietary deficiency.
> If there a lot of oxidative damage occuring because these patients eat a lot of fried foods (trans fats) and overly processed foods, i would assume that vitamin E levels would drop as a result of being used as an fat antioxidant.
There is no suggestion of that in this article.
> That's the only reason I can think of with regard to why they have low levels even after adequate intake. But I'm sure there's many possibilities that I have yet to come across.
Oxidative stress related to etiological factors that lead to depression.
> The question is, however, might depressed patients benefit from higher than RDA levels of vitamin E?
Without doubt. The RDA is defined as that level that leads to overt deficiency symptoms in 1 out of 40 normal healthy people. This article shows that amount (the RDA) is quite insufficient in depressives.
> Might the increased levels of E counteract whatever is causing them to be low in the first place?
Without doubt.
> I could see higher than normal levels vitamin E being helpful in the brain, especially since so much of the brain is fatty or fat-like tissue.
But they're not addressing higher than normal levels. This research only addresses lower than normal circulating levels being correlated with depressive affective states. That correlation coefficient is highly significant. Also, it suggests that vitamin E status is a substantial contributor to depressed mood (r² = .135).
Your hypothesis (that higher vitamin E levels might be neuroprotective) is fine, but it cannot be addressed in any way by this study. You cannot extrapolate from functional deficiency syndromes to optimal health.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:412398
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041022/msgs/412563.html